Press Release: The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) has again been chosen as a recipient of the Port of Los Angeles’s Community Investment Grants Program which awarded $1 million to support programs, projects, and events benefiting a wide variety of communities. The grant program supports workforce development, education, the environment and the LA waterfront which aligns with NAMEPA’s mandate. This is an opportunity to continue to build this important programming valuable to the global community.
NAMEPA Chief Operating Officer, Lyn Harris commented, “NAMEPA is honored to be awarded funding for a second year through the Port of Los Angeles Community Grant Program. The grant will help develop NAMEPA’s Planet and Ocean Discovery Series (PODS) – Coastal Habitats Program, educating students in grades 6-8 on ocean literacy. The Port of Los Angeles Grant program provides an avenue for organizations like NAMEPA to build and deploy education programs and engage with the local community about the importance of preserving the marine environment and in efforts to ‘Save Our Seas’.”
NAMEPA’s PODS Coastal Habitats Program is part of a greater design which includes Open Ocean and Inland Waterways. The PODS program is for all learning levels and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ocean Literacy Principles. The program is a virtual, downloadable, environmentally based learning series designed to reach a broad audience bringing marine science into the classroom. This funding for the Coastal Habitats Program is directed towards educators and students in grades 6-8 in the Los Angeles port community and offers immersive learning on the marine environment. It is virtual with interactive learning and activities and includes in-person opportunities. The goals are to educate on ocean literacy focusing on coastal habitats and to provide insight on career pathways in the marine industry. Through this programming, NAMEPA estimates that the course will be delivered through 50 teachers, reaching over 3,000 students. NAMEPA is excited to continue their collaborative relationship with the Port of Los Angeles through aligned goals for a positive long-term impact on port communities and continued efforts to “Save Our Seas”.
